One of the top failed New Year’s resolutions is promising yourself to eat better & exercise more. Why is treating ourselves well so darn hard? Maybe giving ourselves to many plans & options is part of the problem. Often, the 2nd & 3rd option are much easier than the first but a lot less effective. And maybe to go a little further those “other” options are our excuses.

There is no other option for your life than a “healthy” one…your family, your work, your path & purpose depend on it.  So put down the other options of “I will start tomorrow”, “I will re-set my goals for more realistic ones” or whatever you say to yourself to get out of the first option.

I know this is not easy so we have some help for you!  Let Fluidity help kick off your summer with a little session with us. Prevention & maintenance is key! From nutrition & exercise tips to a little hands-on “tweaking” of your body, we can assist you to stay on track.

Don’t hesitate. Follow through with your PRIMARY plan no matter how many times you may need to get back on the horse. Remember, plan A may be very hard but worth it…don’t give up.

Need a little more motivation?

• Michael Jordan as a 10th grader was cut from the high school varsity basketball team.
• Abraham Lincoln lost more elections than he won before he became president.
• Sandra Day O”Conner graduated in the top 10 percent of her law class but was never offered a job at any major law firm…what did she do?  She opened her own and we all know where that went…she became the first woman elected to the Supreme Court.

I don’t know about you but I don’t think they had a plan B…

To Your Health,

Jennifer

Tip 1: Sunscreen is not the only way to protect your skin from excessive sun exposure.

Eating better and keeping your gut (gastrointestinal tract) healthy can be a great tool of protection.  Your skin is a reflection of your gut and your gut a reflection of your skin.  Better gut—> Better integrity of skin—> Better resistance to UV rays!

Tip 2: Honey oh Honey!

Research as been around for years showing the benefits of honey in enhancing energy and boosting immunity.  Honey has been popularly combined with vinegar to create energizing tonics and healing elixirs…even Hippocrates used this!

Other fun food and more—>BERRIES, BERRIES, BERRIES!  The anti-oxidant, the neutralizer of free radicals, the enhancer of brain/heart/gut heath, and more!  Or how about sprinkling a little lemon balm (garden herb similar to mint) in your salads or drinking a little green tea? Both of which have been shown to combat our modern day stress.

Tip 3: SPECIFICITY of exercise is KEY!

You don’t have to exercise 2 hours a day to get the health benefits of exercise.  The idea behind quality exercise is NO “mindless” exercise.  Quality of movement with your exercise of choice optimizes outcome.  See our “proper running form” video as one example.

So here is to grabbing the apple with the sunscreen, pouring the honey into your cup of tea and adding a touch of specificity to your workouts and “wallah”…you may be surprised how good you will feel!

To your health,

Jennifer

Fluidity Integrative Therapy among other healthcare providers have taken a more innovative & alternative approach to chronic pain.  By addressing physical dysfunction and other influences such as nutrition & acute stress, we have seen profound results in healing.  But there seems to be a “silent” barrier sometimes that we fail to address (or address effectively) yet research has been backing it’s influence for years.  Emotional & mental well being seem to be a “heavy weight” when it comes to improving overall health…but have we mastered how to attain it?

We have probably all heard “type A personalities are more at risk for heart attacks” or “those with sustained levels of high anxiety & stress are more prone to physical dysfunction & pain.”  The amount of physical issues that can come from sustained stress is profound and can often be more traumatic on the body than an actual physical trauma.  We have many options for assistance in addressing our mental and emotional health ranging from family support, counseling, life coach specialists and more.  Although these can be effective options what if the answer was as simple as “perception?”

Perception: A shift in mind set from victim to victor, from running away to embracing, from bad attitude to gratitude.  We see sport psychologists focus on “envisioning” a positive outcome for the athlete.  Can we do this with the other end of the spectrum…ABSOLUTELY!  The mind is a powerful thing…we all have heard that…but do we believe it?

I encourage all of you to look at your mental & emotional health.  (A great book: The Power of Perception by: Marcus Bach).  Look at your barriers, your hurt, your pain, your past and shift your mind….learn, LET GO, and move on.  It will be by far the cheapest way to feel better (physically, emotionally, and spiritually) and probably the most liberating.

Here is to simple answers…here is to LETTING GO…

Jennifer

Than I began to watch athletes “warm-up”…wait a minute…what are they doing?  As I observed, most of them couldn’t run!  They could dunk a basketball or serve a mean volleyball but they couldn’t perform the most “basic” form of sport…RUN.  This posed 2 new questions: 1. Does lack of good running form contribute to not just running but all athletic injuries?   2.  If so, could getting “back to basics” not only help resolve injuries but ultimately enhance  all sports performance?

I have yet to see significant research on these 2 questions but I can tell you from my own professional experience running is a sport you have to “practice” to get good at (like any other sport) AND when “practiced” well it not only decreases pain & injury but improves athletic performance in many sports.

Remember,  although reasons why people display poor running mechanics may be debated and many fold (ie. diet, culture, shoes, genetics), the good news is the body can learn, adapt, and change!  Running is a SPORT…maybe the purest of sport.  If you can truly run and all other sports require running….well, you do the math.    Could we be onto something…could we decrease injury and optimize sport all at the same time?…maybe, just maybe.

So, were we born to run?…maybe.   Were we born with the POTENTIAL  to run?  …YES.  And if nothing else, isn’t it true art to see a sport done and done well.

Here is to running and running gracefully…

Jennifer

First, we have recently changed our DBA to “Fluidity Integrative Therapy” (FIT).  With our 4 year anniversary around the corner we continue to focus our vision & passion on quality care by implementing  our specialty of Integrative Manual Therapy with other advanced forms of therapy including yoga & postural restoration-based therapeutic exercise.  With our goal of treating clients as a whole, by integrating all systems of the body, our new name personifies more effectively our vision for quality care…it just “FITs” us.

Second, how does “pumping up the volume,”  playing in a little paint or petting a furry friend sound for therapy?  Pretty fun, huh?  And actually can be very effective.  Music, art, and animals have continued to wow us in research with the health & wellness benefits that accompany them.

Who doesn’t like to PUMP UP THE VOLUME once in awhile while driving home from work or picking up your kids from practice?!  Music has been shown to: enhance pain & stress management, optimize energy & relaxation, boost mood & immunity, and more.  Music therapy is continuing to grow and yes, hitting Hampton Roads.   Tidewater Arts Outreach (TAO) is an organization that uses music to enhance quality of life in many different settings ranging from nursing homes to hospitals.  Whether getting involved with organizations like TAO or just turning up the radio, music can truly be a healing tool.

And what about taking up a paint brush?  No, you don’t have to be the next Monet to reap benefits from activating that creative side of the brain.  Child or adult, engaging in art activities have been shown to be beneficial.  Art therapy encourages self-exploration & bringing clarity to ones life as well as assist with  social skills.  It has also been beneficial for those with more serious mental disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD), cancer, and more.  Whether art therapy is guided by an art therapist or you choose isolated “creative” moments there is therapeutic value in art.

And of course my favorite…pet therapy.   Whether you are a pet owner or have had pets visit your facility the benefits of pets range from physical to psychological and include: decrease risk of depression, lower blood pressure in stressful situations, elevate mood, decrease pain, enhance recovery & survival post trauma to name a few.  Pet therapy can also reach & benefit a wide spectrum of people ranging from a child with a learning disorder to a senior struggling with Alzheimer’s.  We are proud to have, Justice, our therapy dog.  He is 120 pounds of love, energy, and absolute personality.   He is currently volunteering in the Wounded Warriors/Paws for Healing project apart of the Norfolk Navy Base and looks forward to reaching out this year to libraries, nursing homes, and child abuse programs.  He also is a huge contributor to our clinic as  can be seen by all the belly rubs and treats our clients bring him…hard life.    He truly brings a sense of joy to the practice.

So don’t be shy…we won’t make fun of you dancing in your car, drawing a stick figure or talking “baby talk” to a dog…it’s all good when it is GREAT in healing.

To your health,

Jennifer
 

For many of you committing to being healthier this year is at the fore front but the process  getting there can be a little daunting.  However, with health care changes still looming your best bet IS  to stay out of the doctor’s office…PREVENTION is KEY!

No need to spend hours trying to stay healthy.  A recipe of FOUR, 10-minute choices will give you an opportunity to feel good…no, GREAT. 

1. 10 minutes of any cardio activity, 3x/week has been shown to decrease risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, depression and improve energy, clarity, & much more…just 10 MINUTES!!

2. 10 minutes of meditative breathing daily helps manage stress, improve body awareness, optimize body systems function to name a few.  Yes, learning to RELAX can be very hard in our busy world but when practiced daily it can become a GREAT habit.  Speaking to your therapist and/or yoga instructor can get you started on learning how to center & ground your body…just 10 MINUTES!

3. 10 minute phone call to your physical therapist, acupuncturist, or other skilled professional.  You don’t live in a bubble.  All of us build up restrictions & dysfunctions throughout the year.  Setting up quarterly (4x/year) maintenance sessions for body work with your therapist can keep pain from spiraling and limiting your life style…just 10 MINUTES!

4. 10 minute phone call to a nutritionist/food specialist is vital.  Not giving your body good food is like going to battle without a shield & sword!  Healthy eating habits gives all the same benefits as above.  But it is not just about eating “healthier.”  Curtailing a plan for your unique body’s needs/physiology  (past medical history, food allergies, metabolism, blood type, current medication, etc)) is key.  Making an appointment will get you on the right path for YOU and keep you from getting frustrated…and more importantly feeling great.

5.  BONUS CHOICE!  10 minutes of journal writing a day is an amazing thing and can give you many of the same health benefits as above.  No structure, no particular topic…just you and a pen.  You can go from brain FOG to brain CLARITY.

So.  It is time to pull out the big guns!  Just 4 small choices.  Life is about choices and sometimes the smallest ones make the biggest difference.  I think you ARE important enough to feel GREAT.  And when you feel great, you effect those around you in an even greater way. 

Don’t wait…no excuses…live a great life now…it is already so unbelievably short.

To Your Health…

Jennifer

So long story longer…

We are a dynamic and progressive out-patient physical therapy practice. Taking a more advanced & innovative approach to healing we implement the most up-to-date techniques. The “niche” of our practice includes the implementation of integrative manual therapy in conjunction with functional orthopedics and postural restoration exercises. Providing a combination of structural and functional rehabilitation will maximize healing & function, improve overall wellness & quality of life as well as aid in prevention of future pain & dysfunction. The hands on approach taken in all areas of rehabilitation provide the environment to reach the highest potential of each individual’s body… a more “FLUID” you.

Many headache based symptoms can be due to the same reasons you have other pains throughout the body…joint stiffness, muscle spasm, swelling, decrease circulation and bone malalignment can happen at the cranium (head) and neck too! We address these issues  like we would any other area of the body. After assessing and finding the dysfunctional tissues we would than combine integrative manual therapy with functional and postural & breathing restoration exercises to enhance overall symptom relief.

Please realize headaches also can have many outside factors that contribute such as high/ constant stress or food/environmental allergies to name two. We will assist & support efforts to manage stress more effectively as well as connect you with appropriate nutritionists to effectively target & manage allergies.

Headaches do not have to control you! By creating a more balanced and symmetrical body you can get rid of headaches AND have a more “FLUID” you…

Unfortunately, our “old school” physical therapy does not seem to be as effective as it was 20 years ago. Our athletes are more comprehensive than ever and the pressure to return to sport even greater. The good news is we have stepped-up our game to meet the needs of these athletes.

At Fluidity Integrative Therapy we perform an evaluation that is sport-specific. We analyze movements that the athlete may perform frequently (ie. throwing, hitting, running) and find where their potential problem may be.  In addition, a full-body assessment is performed as it is often observed that many athletes’ major problems are not at the site of pain. For example, a volleyball player may have chronic shoulder pain not because of weakness of the shoulder but because of no range-of-motion/flexibility of the back…her shoulder in essence is doing all the work because her back is not contributing as it should to allow optimal hitting.

After a thorough evaluation is performed a plan is made that will most likely incorporate manual treatment to create better alignment & symmetry through the body as well as exercises to maintain this symmetry. We follow-up with more sport-specific rehab has the athlete heals. The combination of manual therapy along with exercises has given the athletes we have treated results that get them back on the field better than ever. And isn’t that what we all want?!